Sports Briefs

Singleton-Pistorius showdown
DALLAS — Jerome Singleton is all for fellow Paralympian Oscar Pistorius running against able-bodied athletes at the London Olympics.

Under one condition. Singleton says if the South African double amputee runs the 400 meters at the Olympics, he’s better come to the Paralympic Games ready to race. No complaining about being tired or any other excuses, because Singleton is eager for a showdown in the 100 meters.

Two years after finishing second by a mere 0.03 seconds at the Paralympic Games in Beijing, Singleton edged Pistorius at last year’s world championships. It was the first time in seven years Pistorius had lost a 100-meter paralympic race.

Singleton is the first U.S. man to win gold in the 100 at the worlds or Paralympic Games since 2004.

July 7 Olympics roster deadline
USA Basketball chairman Jerry Colangelo considers about 10 men’s Olympic team spots set “on paper,” with the rest to be determined over two days of practice before the squad is announced July 7.

The Americans requested and were granted an extension to the deadline to select the roster by the U.S. Olympic Committee after four candidates were knocked out by injuries. The team was originally to be picked by June 18 before the end of the NBA season.

Instead, the Americans will hold their first practice July 6 in Las Vegas with a to-be-determined number of players. They’ll gather their final 12 at a team meeting the next night. There are 18 healthy players in the roster pool.

NBA players to lead Brazil
SAO PAULO — Brazil’s men’s basketball team will be led by NBA players Nene, Leandro Barbosa, Tiago Splitter and Anderson Varejao when it returns to the Olympics for the first time in 16 years.

The four players were included in the list of 15 summoned by Argentine coach Ruben Magnano on May 17. Also included was point guard Larry Taylor, who recently earned Brazilian citizenship.

Only 12 players will make it to London but Taylor and the NBA players will likely be in the team as Magnano’s list included two players summoned only to gain experience in practice and one other who was nursing a knee injury and was not expected to recover in time.

Brazil’s men last competed in the Olympics in 1996, reaching the quarterfinals in Atlanta.

Griner had Olympic chance

DALLAS — Brittney Griner could have added an Olympic medal to her NCAA title. The Baylor star’s chances of making the U.S. team for this summer’s London Olympics were “pretty good” before she withdrew from consideration last month, U.S. coach Geno Auriemma said recently.

When she withdrew, Griner cited an unspecified family illness and her summer school schedule. She later broke her right wrist in a longboard accident.

A 6-foot-8 center, Griner is a two-time All-American who was The Associated Press player of the year this past season when the undefeated Lady Bears won the national championship and became the first 40-win team in NCAA history.

In her three seasons at Baylor, Griner has averaged 21.6 points and 8.6 rebounds with a Big 12-record 594 blocked shots. She is the first NCAA player with 2,000 career points and 500 blocked shots.